Biogenic synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles: Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities

• Tin oxide nanoparticles are synthesized using Saraca indica flower.
• The influence of reaction parameters on the crystallite size has been studied.
• The structural and morphological studies were carried out using XRD and TEM studies.
• The optical properties of the samples were investigated using absorption and emission spectroscopy.
• The as synthesized sample is potential antioxidant and antibacterial agent.

Nanostructured semiconductors have been of special interest to scientific community due to their peculiar properties. The quantum size effect results in spectacular variation in the optical and vibrational characteristics of nanostructured materials compared to their bulk counterparts. The present work emphasizes an unexploited, cost effective, and environmentally benign method of synthesizing bioactive tin oxide nanoparticles of size from 2.1 nm to 4.1 nm using Saraca indica flower. The XRD pattern and HRTEM images of the samples revealed an increase in particle size with annealing temperature. Fine tuning band gap could be attained as evidenced by the shift of absorption band edge and photoluminescence emission. It is found that oxygen vacancies play an important role on PL emission. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli. The antioxidant activity is evaluated by scavenging free radicals of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH). The efficiency of biogenic SnO2 nanoparticles as a promising antibacterial agent as well as an antioxidant for pharmaceutical applications is suggested.

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